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1ruminant
noun ru·mi·nant \ˈrü-mə-nənt\
: an animal (such as a cow or sheep) that has more than one stomach and that swallows food and then brings it back up again to continue chewing it
Full Definition of RUMINANT
: a ruminant mammal
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First Known Use of RUMINANT
1661
2ruminant
adjective
Definition of RUMINANT
1
a (1) : chewing the cud (2) : characterized by chewing again what has been swallowed b : of or relating to two suborders (Ruminantia and Tylopoda) of herbivorous even-toed hoofed mammals (as sheep, oxen, deer, and camels) that chew the cud and have a complex 3- or 4-chambered stomach
2
: given to or engaged in contemplation : meditative <stood there … in this attitude of ruminant relish — Thomas Wolfe>
— ru·mi·nant·ly adverb
First Known Use of RUMINANT
1691
Related to RUMINANT
- Synonyms
- broody, cogitative, meditative, melancholy, musing, pensive, reflective, contemplative, ruminative, thoughtful
- Antonyms
- unreflective
RUMINANTLY Defined for Kids
ruminant
noun ru·mi·nant \ˈrü-mə-nənt\
Definition of RUMINANT for Kids
: a hoofed animal (as a cow or sheep) that chews its cud and has a stomach with usually four chambers
— ruminant adjective <ruminant animals>
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